City Council
Regular MeetingIdaho Falls, ID · April 6, 2020
Minutes
April 6, 2020
The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in Council Work Session, Monday, April 6, 2020, in the Council
Chambers in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls, Idaho at 3:00 p.m.
Call to Order and Roll Call:
There were present:
Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper
Councilmember Michelle Ziel-Dingman (by WebEx)
Councilmember John Radford (by WebEx)
Councilmember Jim Freeman (by WebEx)
Councilmember Jim Francis (by WebEx)
Councilmember Shelly Smede (by WebEx)
Councilmember Thomas Hally (joined by WebEx at 3:25 p.m.)
Also present:
Pamela Alexander, Municipal Services Director
Oliver Lewis, Information Technology
Brad Cramer, Community Development Services Director (by WebEx)
Duane Nelson, Fire Chief (by WebEx)
Rick Cloutier, Airport Director (by WebEx)
Randy Fife, City Attorney (by WebEx)
Kathy Hampton, City Clerk
Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. with the following items:
Area of Impact (AOI) Discussion:
Mayor Casper stated the virtual meeting with the Bonneville County Commissioners could not be arranged due to
miscommunication. This agenda item will be postponed to a future time.
Liaison Reports and Council Concerns:
Councilmember Dingman had no items to report.
Councilmember Freeman stated the Police Department responses have been reduced by approximately 1/3 due to the
coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. He noted some media reports have been inaccurate.
Councilmember Radford had no items to report.
Councilmember Smede commended the finance team for the April 3, 2020 Budget Workshop.
Councilmember Francis had no items to report.
Councilmember Hally had no items to report.
Mayor Casper had no calendar items to announce. She stated Council Work Sessions and Council Meetings, as well
as other regularly-scheduled meetings, will not be cancelled at this point. She noted the majority of Boards,
Commissions, and, Committees have cancelled their meetings. Mayor Casper reviewed the proposed language
regarding public hearings and the COVID-19 issues for upcoming Council Meeting agendas. She also requested
suspending public comment during the COVID-19 crisis as public comment has been tradition for the City although
is not required by law. Following brief comments, there was consensus of the Council to suspend the public comment.
Mayor Casper reviewed ‘Crush the Curve’ on-line COVID-19 testing process. She is hopeful this website will be
launched in the near future. Mayor Casper stated the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has
changed per the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this will affect the dates for CDBG.
She also stated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the wearing of masks to
prevent individuals from spreading the virus to other individuals. City employees not working from home will be
required to wear masks in the near future. To the request of Mayor Casper, there was consensus of the Council to
continue COVID-19 updates as a regular agenda item. Mayor Casper stated she will be participating in a regional
Mayor’s conference, discussion will include the possible extension of the Governor’s stay-home order.
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April 6, 2020
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grants and Contracts Discussion:
Director Cloutier stated the airport will be receiving funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the
near future. A portion of this funding will be for the grant terminal project. Due to the quick turn-around timeframe
(typically five (5) days) of grant acceptance, Director Cloutier requested authorization for Legal staff to review and
Mayor Casper to execute the documents with Council ratification to follow at the next available Council Meeting.
He indicated the terminal project is anticipated to cost $12,677,242. The airport would typically have a $1.2M match,
which has been included in the airport budget in anticipation of this grant. Due to the CARES Act, the federal portion
of grants are being funded 100% with the exception of non-eligible portions of the project, including airport
administration, storage rooms, etc. The non-eligible portions amount to approximately $340,000. Per the request of
Mayor Casper, there was consensus of the Council for this ratification. Director Cloutier also stated per the CARES
Act, there is additional funding to be used for any legal use at the airport. It is anticipated the airport would receive
$1M-$1.5M in federal funding. The funding will help with lost revenue. This grant funding also has a quick turn-
around timeframe. Director Cloutier requested a similar authorization for Legal staff to review, Mayor Casper to
execute the documents, and, Council ratification to follow at the next available Council Meeting. To the response of
Mayor Casper, Director Cloutier stated this funding this will be sufficient to cover lost revenues.
Airport Revenue, Fee Waivers/Deferrals Discussion:
Director Cloutier stated the airport received approximately $850,000 in revenue from March to June in the previous
year. This includes airline, parking, and, car rental revenue. There is FAA guidance to clearly identify that grant
assurances are fulfilled. Director Cloutier suggested other sources of revenue be evaluated to allow abatement and
deferral to make the airport self-sufficient. He indicated daily flights are still being scheduled (although some flights
are being canceled due to the lack of passengers) and vehicles are still being rented. He stated options being
considered for the tenants are for reasonable concessions and possibly deferring payments to the end of the Fiscal
year. To the response of Councilmember Freeman, Director Cloutier stated the airport restaurant is only selling to-
go items. To the response of Councilmember Francis, Director Cloutier stated this funding is required to be used for
any legal purposes at the airport within grant assurances. This would include items within the operating budget such
as salaries or construction projects and, this offer does not expire at year end. Director Cloutier stated discussions are
occurring for additional airport funding at the Congressional level. Mayor Casper questioned the budget authority for
any additional revenue versus the projected revenue. Director Alexander stated additional revenue would be allowed.
Director Cloutier stated projected expenditures will be decreased due to this funding. He also stated this funding will
maintain the airport for 3-4 months. These funds would need to be reserve funds dedicated to the airport. Following
additional comments, there was consensus of the Council to proceed with abatements and deferrals.
It was then moved by Councilmember Smede, seconded by Councilmember Freeman, to move into Executive
Session. The Executive Session was called pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code Section 74-206(1)(j) to consider
labor contract matters authorized under section 74-206A(1)(a) and (b), Idaho Code. The Executive Session will be
held in the City Annex Conference Room. At the conclusion of the Executive Session the Council will not reconvene
into regular Work Session. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Smede, Hally, Dingman, Radford, Freeman,
Francis. Nay – none. Motion carried.
The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in Executive Session, Monday, April 6, 2020 in the City Annex
Conference Room in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls, Idaho at 4:14 p.m.
There were present:
Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper
Councilmember Michelle Ziel-Dingman (by WebEx)
Councilmember John Radford (by WebEx)
Councilmember Jim Freeman (by WebEx)
Councilmember Jim Francis (by WebEx)
Councilmember Shelly Smede (by WebEx)
Councilmember Thomas Hally (by WebEx)
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April 6, 2020
Also present:
Pamela Alexander, Municipal Services Director
Duane Nelson, Fire Chief (by WebEx)
Michael Kirkham, Assistant City Attorney (by WebEx)
Randy Fife, City Attorney (by WebEx)
The Executive Session was called pursuant to the provisions of Idaho Code Section 74-206(1)(j) to consider labor
contract matters authorized under section 74-206A(1)(a) and (b), Idaho Code.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m.
s/ Kathy Hampton s/ Rebecca L. Noah Casper
CITY CLERK MAYOR
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Agenda
CUSP Education Committee Meeting Minutes for February 20, 2020
Idaho Falls Public Library Room 2
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm
Those in attendance- Tomm Larson, Marie Giraud, Christine Leusch, Margaret Wimborne, Pat
Tucker, Michaelena Hix, Catherine Black, Kylie Dixon, and Sarah Cherry
Introductions were made, including meeting our new committee chair, Michaelena Hix.
District 91 Kindergarten Program- Kylie Dixon (Principal at Sunnyside Elementary) and Sarah
Cherry (Assistant Principal at Sunnyside Elementary) came to present on their new full day
kindergarten option for this year, as well as other programs being used within the district. (Please see
the attached handout)
The problem local schools are facing is that first graders are not arriving prepared and possessing the
skills they need. Sunnyside has started a pay-to-participate option for their Kindergarteners. Parents
can opt to pay $275/month for full day Kindergarten with a certified teacher. Approximately one third
of the students are participating in this program.
Temple View and Bush Elementary schools have a new program that enrolls all Kindergarten
students in a full day schedule. Half of the day is with a certified teacher, and the other half is with a
para professional. This is paid for with Title 1 and K-3 money.
The remaining elementary schools in District 91 have an extended day program. Students scoring a
2-3 on the IRI have extended time with a para professional in addition to the half day with the certified
teacher. This program varies from school to school and is paid for with Title 1 and K-3 money.
Pat Tucker's presentation was postponed and will take place next meeting
United Way Education opportunities- Christine Leusch came and explained ways that United Way is
involved with education. (Please see the three attached handouts she provided.) They have just started
a “SOAR” program for 4th-6th graders who are recommended due to issues with poor attendance or
behavior. Attendance in SOAR is voluntary, and is held at Hawthorne Elementary after school 2 days
per week. Students are paired with mentors that listen to them and participate in activities. They are
seeking grants to expand this program.
They are also hoping to pilot another program this summer called Kindergarten Bootcamp to help get
Pre-K students more prepared for Kindergarten.
Focus Areas and Priorities Discussion- It is important that in our next couple meetings we narrow
our focus to create a few recommendations. We can then spend remaining months studying,
supporting, and clarifying these recommendations before submitting them to the Mayor. We will try to
meet every two weeks to meet this objective and avoid meeting often in the busy months of summer.
Meeting adjourned at 8:08
The next meeting will be March 10, 2020 at the Idaho Falls Public Library Rm 2 at 6:30pm
A meeting had also been calendared for March 24, 2020 in the same location at 6:30pm
Environment
& Sustainability
Committee
City of Idaho Falls February 26, 2020
Environment & Sustainability 10:30 a.m.
CUSP Committee Meeting Activity Center
Chair: Kris Millgate 1575 N. Skyline Dr.
Vice-Chair: Stephanie Austad Idaho Falls, ID 83402
MINUTES
Roll Call:
Adams C. X Evaly, J. X Millgate K. Silverman H.
X
Austad S. X Haney, C. Morales K. Vazhnik V.
X X
Cherry B. X Lepler K. Sehlke G.
Call to Order:
The meeting called to order at 10:37 a.m. by committee chair Kris Millgate.
Approval of Minutes:
Bob Cherry motioned to approve the 02/12/20 minutes
Katelyn Morales seconded the motion
All in Favor
Speaker: David Richards, City of Idaho Falls Water Superintendent
See attached Water Quantity presentation
(cont. from 02/12/20 meeting)
No treatment required for our aquifer water. City of IF chlorinates for water
storage.
Aquifer extends from Rexburg to Thousand Springs.
Total (Ground and surface) Water Use: 2015: 1.6% is cities; 86.3 Agricultural
Irrigation; Other: 12.2 (Mgal per day) USGS Circular 1441
Groundwater Use: 2015: 4.6% cities; 91.6% Irrigation; 3.8% other (Mgal per day)
Surface Water Coalition:
2017: Agreement to recharge aquifer in north to mitigate problems in south Idaho
2018: Cities to provide 7650 acre-feet per year mitigation and 9640 if not
mitigated.
Provides a safe harbor from spring rights water calls
Agreement term limits: Dec 31, 2053
Combined City pumping reaches 120,000 acre-feet per year,
Environment
& Sustainability
Committee
Sand Creek Recharge Site: Recharges from sand creek to the recharge site.
2500 to 3000 acre feet into ground. 3200 acre feet = 1 billion gallons
City of IF tests the water that goes into the recharge site to ensure contaminated
water isn’t going into aquifer.
Water Saving Tools in Toolbox:
Convert city parks from groundwater to surface water irrigation
Metering
Local-scape; xeriscape
Wastewater effluent recharge
Direct wastewater reuse
Adams: What is the biggest threat to our water supply?
Richards: The agricultural contaminants (bacteria, nitrates, semi VOCs (man-
made pesticides), nitrates.
Austad: What are we currently doing to educate about local-scaping?
Richards: Mayor has created committee to find ways to use less water (street
scapes). Talking to nurseries to promote local plants.
Committee contact: city horticulturalist Lee Washburn
Cherry: Is their goal to do demonstrations?
Richards: Yes, they are planning a demonstration. Master gardeners also have a
demo near Sandy Downs that is demonstrating local plants. There is also a
native plant society.
Adams: Is there anyone integrating sod/planting requirements so the plants are
not directly adjacent to concrete, but instead has a buffer area of mulch?
Richards: Yes.
Speaker: Carlin Feisthamel, Idaho DEQ water quality engineer
We have very clean water in eastern Idaho with no industry that creates a lot of
contamination. We rarely see any pesticide contamination and is usually not
groundwater borne.
Discussed water quality in Eastern Idaho. Some areas have action plans for
nitrate and the results are trending positively.
What is IDEQ doing to protect the aquifer:
Limit use of flood irrigation; using ground water and pivots to just use what you
need directly at the plant
But that increases aquifer downdraw and so aquifer recharge is needed.
At discharge sites, you have a large amount of water going through a small
amount of dirt, so the potential for contamination increases.
Environment
& Sustainability
Committee
IDEQ has a monitoring program for discharge sites; monitor raw water going in
(bacterial main concern because it is the most rapid health consequence).
Monitor for VOCs (oil-based) herbicides, pesticides, e-coli, heavy metals. Also do
a down-gradient well and up-gradient well. Non-detectable levels of non-coliform
source contamination. Looking at making the Sand Creek site larger.
Cherry: Can you tell if e-coli is animal or human caused?
Feisthamel: Hard to tell. We do occasional events of e-coli in the island park area
(very rare) because of fractured basalt and how fast the water enters the aquifer.
Adams: What are risks associated with flood events overcoming the agricultural
lagoons and causing contamination?
Feisthamel/Richards: Some smaller cities still have lagoons. City wellheads
must be located above flood levels.
Cherry: How will climate change affect our water quality?
Feisthamel/Richards: We have seen an increase in water use due to hotter
weather. Starting to see a little more bacteria growth due to warmer ground
conditions and thus warmer pipes.
Austad: Has there been any attempt to estimate the life of the aquifer?
Feisthamel: Not that he is aware of.
Millgate: Does the city directly dump waste into the snake river?
Feisthamel/Richards: Not untreated water. There may be areas where
stormwater is discharged. They typically go through a stormwater pond first,
which are designed to treat naturally. Wastewater treatment put 9-10 M gallons
per day into the river. The city has the right to that water until it returns to the
river. The city does not receive any credit for returning it to the river - cannot
remove again. Pharmaceuticals are a big issue.
Austad: What are the biggest things that each household could do?
Richards: Flushable wipes clog pumps – they are not flushable; medications;
non-organics are also issues.
Haney: How often should private wells be tested and how do you go about it?
Feisthamel: Go to Teton Labs – test for total coliform bacteria ($20). At least 2
times/year. Nitrates once every few years (1-3 mg/liter is average in our area).
Public Comment:
No public attendees.
Summary of Steering Committee Meeting:
lack of guidance out of the gate is common concern
committed to providing deliverables to steering chair in September
To consider:
Environment
& Sustainability
Committee
If steering committee puts together a community survey, what would EnS
want to ask? (1 or 2 questions)
Target Practice:
Decide not to debate more targets and hold at 3 targets for now
Finalize Targets:
Waste
Water
Energy
Mini Committee assignments:
Waste: Catherine Haney,
Water: Stephanie Austad, Jennifer Evaly, Kris Millgate, Heather Silverman
Energy: Colby Adams, Bob Cherry. Katelyn Morales
Unassigned: Katrin Lepler, Gerry Sehlke, Veronika Vazhnik,
Adams: add resilience to each target
Kris: education is also part of every target
Cherry: add section at end of report for other targets to investigate.
Call for Agenda Items:
Focus on energy in March
Invite Idaho Falls Power
Cancelling March 25 meeting due to spring break
Notify city of cigarette smell and cat in meeting room
Set Next Meeting Date/Time:
March 11, 2020 10:30 am – Activity Center
Adjourn:
Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m. by committee chair Kris Millgate.
END NOTES Recorded by:
Stephanie Austad
Committee vice-chair
and Kris Millgate
Committee chair
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
CUSP PRESENTATION – FEBRUARY 2020
By: David Richards, PE
Water Superintendent
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA)
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
2015 Idaho Water Use Statistics
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Surface Water Coalition/Coalition of Cities Settlement Agreement - 2018
Major Agreement Provisions
• Cities to provide 7,650 acre-feet per year mitigation
▪ Delivery to IWRB for managed aquifer recharge
▪ Private managed aquifer recharge
▪ Groundwater to surface water conversions
▪ Dry up of irrigated lands
• Cities to provide 9,640 acre-feet per year mitigation
▪ If goals of IGWA-SWC Settlement Agreement not met
• Mitigation volume compliance met on 5-yr rolling average
• Annual reporting
• Will be incorporated into ESPA Groundwater Management
Plan
• Safe harbor from spring rights water calls
• Agreement term limits
▪ City pumping reaches 120,000 acre-feet per year
(currently at 62,500 acre-feet per year), or
▪ December 31, 2053
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Internal City Mitigation Allocation Agreement
Major Provisions
• Mitigation amount factors
▪ Volume pumped by City
▪ Priority date of existing City
water rights
• Idaho Falls mitigation amount
▪ 3,634.7 acre-feet per year
initially
▪ 3,190.9 acre-feet per year
with addition of more
cities to agreement
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Sand Creek Recharge Site Vicinity
SAND POINTE SUBDIVISION
SAND
CREEK GC
SAND DUNE
SAND CREEK
RECHARGE SITE
SANDY DOWNS
RACE TRACK
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
Source Water Sustainability – Managed Aquifer Recharge
Eagle Scout Project First Fill
Diversion Gate
Sand Creek Recharge Site – First Private MAR Site in Idaho
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
City of Idaho Falls 2019 Mitigation Efforts
Egin Bench Site
Sand Creek Site
2019 Groundwater Quality Monitoring: 156 Bacteria Tests; 1,917 Field Parameter Tests; 686 Laboratory Tests
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
City of Idaho Falls Next Steps for Mitigation
Tools in Our Toolbox:
• Conversion of large City parks from groundwater to surface
water irrigation.
▪ Pinecrest Golf Course
▪ Tautphaus Park
▪ Freeman Park
▪ Community Park
• Conservation measures
▪ Metering
▪ Local-scape; Xeriscape
• Additional local recharge sites
• Wastewater effluent recharge
• Direct wastewater reuse
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS – GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
CITY OF IDAHO FALLS
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
CUSP PRESENTATION – FEBRUARY 2020
ANY QUESTIONS???
CUSP Education Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Idaho Falls Public Library Rm. 2
The meeting was called to order at 6:44pm
Attendees- Shannon Taylor, Catherine Black, Aaron Johnson, Michaelena Hix, Marie Giraud,
Pat Tucker, and Tomm Larsen
Presentation on Early Childhood Learning Research by Pat Tucker-
*Investing in prevention not remediation is so key with teaching young children the skills and
education they need to be successful adults
*Early education is shown to have long term benefits physically, socially, and mentally
*Children at higher risk have the greatest need for publicly funded Pre-K education
*Very recently a 3.3 million dollar grant was given in Idaho for early education and it is being
governed by the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children. We could potentially
reach out to them to work on getting a Pre-K program piloted in our community.
Discussion- *We should learn what the Head start program does in Idaho Falls.
*We should look into the possibility of bolstering the Pre-K program at ISU.
*We can look into what San Antonio did in 2012 to fund Pre-K programs.
*A standing education committee is recommended.
*It would be beneficial to understand what a city's governing body can actually do
within the education sphere before finalizing our topics of interest for exploration.
Action items- We created sub committees to research topics of interest:
Early Education- Pat Tucker, Marie Giraud, and Shannon Taylor
Higher Education/Life Long Learning- Catherine Black and Michaelena Hix
Employer/Market Needs- Tomm Larsen and Aaron Johnson
The next meeting scheduled for March 24th was canceled and we will plan to meet April 7th.
Meeting adjourned at 8:37
Early Childhood Education
Connecting Us Sustaining Progress (CUSP) Initiative
Education Committee, March 10, 2020
Pat Tucker
We can help uplift all of us by increasing the skills of the most disadvantaged by early intervention.
The more technological, the more important skills become. Often, the more our disadvantaged
lag, and are likely to lag in the future.
Congressional Budget Office
Marriage rate of men and women: 1970 to 2010 (Autor and Wasserman, “The Wayward Son: The Emerging Gender Gap in
Labor Markets and Education”)
Incarceration Rate of Men and Women: 1970 to 2010 (Autor and Wasserman)
“The highest rate of return in early childhood
development comes from investing as early
as possible, from birth through age five, in
disadvantaged families.
“Starting at age three or four is too little too
late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget
skills in a complementary and dynamic way.
“Efforts should focus on the first years for the
greatest efficiency and effectiveness. The
best investment is in quality early childhood
development from birth to five for
disadvantaged children and their families.
“I am interested in the economics of human Nobel economist James Heckman at the 2014
flourishing.” White House Summit on Early Education
Higher education returns are very high for the most able and motivated students (22% for college education for the most capable).
INVEST IN PREVENTION NOT REMEDIATION
Terrie Moffitt crime study
Two main types of offenders:
• Adolescence limited offenders
• Life course persistent offenders: Age 3 to 4 years of age
is the onset of criminality for serious offenders.
Three Longitudinal Studies of High-Quality
Preschool Programs
• Perry School Program
• Carolina Abecedarian Project
• Chicago Child-Parent Center Program
The Perry Preschool Program
The Perry Program: Design and Background
• Targeted African American children with low IQs (85 or lower) and
low socioeconomic status.
• Conducted from 1962 to 1967 in the Ypsilanti, Michigan, school
district to help children living in poverty avoid school failure and
related problems.
• Children began at age 3 and were enrolled for 2 years.
• Parents were disadvantaged by income and education.
• Roughly 47% of the children in the study did not have fathers
present in the household at age 3.
• 58 were in the program group, and 65 in a separate group with no
preschool.
• Both groups were followed from 3 to 11, 14, 15, 19, 27, and 40.
Perry Preschool Curricula
• Intentional adult-child interactive language
• Montessori tools
• Movement/dancing
• Teachers provided large and small
group activities
• Personal initiative
• Social relations
• Resolution of interpersonal conflicts
• Self-control
• Creative representation
• Logic and mathematics
• “Plan, Do, Review”
• Active participatory learning with
children and adults treated as equal
partners in the learning process
Outcomes
Education
• 77% of Perry Preschool graduates graduated from high school vs. 60% of the no-program
group
• 88% of program girls graduated from high school vs. only 45% of the no
program group
− 8% of program girls treated for mental impairment vs. 36% of no-program group.
− 21% grade repetition vs. 41%.
• Individual IQ scores rose an average of 27 points from 78 to 105 after 1 year of preschool
• IQ 90+ at age 5: 67% for participant, 28% no program.
Economic Performance
• 76% of program graduates were employed at age 40 vs. 62% no-program group.
Crime Prevention
• Significant reduction in arrests, violent crime, property crime, drug crimes, and jail time.
− Fewer arrests throughout a lifetime (36% vs. 55% arrested five or more times)
− Drug crimes in adolescence (3% vs. 11%) and early adulthood (9% vs. 25%)
− Assault and battery (19% vs. 37%) by age 40.
• Fewer months in prison for felonies (7% vs. 25%).
Health, Family, and Children
• More program males raised their own children (29% vs. 8%).
http://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/specialsummary_rev2011_02_2.pdf
Return on Investment
• The return to society on investment per child in the Perry Program was $366,750
• $12.90 for every dollar invested.
− 88% from crime savings, 4% education savings, 7% in increased taxed because of
higher earnings; 1% in welfare savings.
− Male participants cost the public 41% less in costs associated with crime.
− Graduates earned 14% more over their lifetime than the no-program group
($156,490 more over their lifetime)
• 93% of the cost benefit was based on the improved performance of males
attributed to program males committing significantly fewer crimes.
http://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/specialsummary_rev2011_02_2.pdf
“Preschool must demonstrate ability to affect the development of children in three
areas: These are intellectual growth, academic achievement, and social behavior.”
David P. Weikart
Psychologist and Perry School founder
Net Benefit of Perry School Preschool Rises Over the Lifecycle
Key Points
• High-quality preschool program for young children living in poverty
− Teachers had bachelor’s degrees (or higher) and certification in
education
− Each served five to six children in 2.5-hour classes, and made weekly
1.5-hour home visits to treatment group mothers to increase their
involvement in the socio-emotional development of their children
− Teachers studied and received support using the High/Scope
participation model
• A 2-year program (October through May)
• 9 hours a day could provide greater benefits for the children and their
parents
While the Perry program did not boost long-term IQ, it did boost long-term achievement test scores.
Achievement tests measure acquired knowledge—enhanced for children with better cognitive and
personality skills, which promote learning. Recent evidence shows that 30 to 40% of the gap in
achievement test scores across students is due to personality skills and not IQ.
CAT California Achievement Test
• Personality skills, “soft skills,” physical and mental health,
perseverance, attention, motivation, and self–confidence are also
important and are often neglected.
• The family lives of young children are the major producers of cognitive
and socioemotional skills. These, in turn, predict crime, health, and
obesity
• Almost all antisocial adults were antisocial children (Robins 1978)
• Disobedient and aggressive behaviors measured as early as ages 3 to 5
predict later childhood conduct disorders and adolescent arrests (Moffitt
1993; White et al. 1990)
• Antisocial behaviors measured between ages 7 and 11 strongly predict
criminal behaviors in adulthood (Moffitt 1993; Loeber 1982)
Skill leads to more skill.
Motivation leads to more motivation.
Develop COGNITION AND CHARACTER from birth to school to college to
career training.
• Motivation
• Sociability: ability to work with others
• Attention
• Self-regulation
• Self-esteem
• Ability to defer gratification
• Health and mental health.
Big Five Factors in personality psychology: Openness, conscientiousness,
extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Externalizing behavior is proxied by measures of behavior related to lying, stealing, and swearing, as well as being
aggressive and disruptive. It has been linked to crime and aggressive behavior.
Note: One-sided tests.
*** Significant at the 1 percent level.
** Significant at the 5 percent level.
* Significant at the 10 percent level.
Lasting effects, not fadeout
• Data from the Perry Preschool Program showed that increased
academic motivation creates 30% of the effects on
achievement and 40% on employment for females
• Reduced externalizing behavior creates a 65%
reduction in lifetime violent crime, 40% reduction in lifetime
arrests and 20% reduction in unemployment
• Persistent changes in personality skills played a substantial role in
the success of the Perry program
• Reduction in externalizing behavior, which explains the bulk of the
effects of the Perry program on criminal, labor market, and health
behavior outcomes is especially strong
• A few hours per day of preschool at ages 3 and 4 with a curriculum
that promotes social competency, planning, and organization can
significantly promote positive life outcomes
Carolina Abecedarian Project (ABC)
• Based on at-risk primarily Afro-American youth
• Performed at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
on the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill campus
• Participants were followed through their mid 30s. The programs
started early in life (at 8 weeks of life)
• Parents of participants (primarily mothers) received free childcare
that facilitated parental employment and adult education.
• Conducted by Dr. Craig Ramey
• Compared students with intervention against students randomly assigned to a control
group
• Funded by federal and state grants
• Children were born between 1972 and 1977
• 111 low-income Afro-American children tracked from infancy to age 5 and 12, 15, 21, 30,
and 35
• Designed to prevent lack of cognitive development for low-income, multi-risk children
• Most were in single-mother households with less than a high school education with no
income
• High-quality educational intervention in a childcare setting from infancy through age 5
• Year-round schooling five days a week
• 6.5 to 10 hours a day
• 1:3 ratio for infants; 1:6 for 5-year-olds
• Each child had an individualized prescription of educational activities
• Educational activities consisted of "games" incorporated into the child's day
• Activities focused on social, emotional, and cognitive areas of development but gave
particular emphasis to language
• Programs being adapted in China, Mexico, Canada, and Australia
Program Details
• Two stages 0 to 5, and 6 to 8
• Stable environment during hours of the program
• Onsite pediatric health care: Well and ill child checks, periodic checkups and daily screening—good health has been
found to be a bedrock for success in many other areas
• Nutritious meals—two meals and a snack at the care center during first stage (years 0 through 5 is a critical period for
preventing obesity)
• Improved adult education
• Objective: Could early development prevent development of mild mental retardation in disadvantaged children?
• Cost annually per child $19,932 today; total cost per child: $96,075 today
• Children were transported to the center by Frank Porter
Graham Center staff
• Children stayed for up to 9 hours/day 50 weeks/year
• Learning Games for the First Three Years were developed by
Joseph Sparling and Isabelle Lewis (shown at right)
• Focus on fun
• Focus on language. Teachers were told, “Every game is a
language game,” and to talk to children and elicit responses
from them
• Play-based, adult-child activities to minimize at-risk, anti-
social behaviors and support language, cognitive, motor,
social-emotional skills and task orientation
• Specific program every 2 to 3 weeks.
0 to 5
• Cognitive and social stimulation interspersed with
caregiving and supervised play throughout a full 8-hour
day for the first 5 years
• “Abecedarian Approach,” comprised four key elements:
− Language Priority
− Conversational Reading
− Enriched Caregiving
− LearningGames (200 games with playful back and
forth exchanges between the adult and child)
Program Details (cont.)
6 to 8
• Improving early math and reading skills through having “home-school
resource teachers” customize learning activities based on materials being
covered at school and then deliver these materials to the parents to use
at home
• No evidence of any treatment effect on adult health from the second-stage
randomization
• Treatment effects are much smaller in magnitude than those estimated for
the first-stage treatment and fail to achieve statistical significance at
conventional levels
• Previous work has shown no health effects from a school-age (as
compared with a preschool) educational intervention
Daycare
ABC provided childcare to the parents of treated children for more than 9 hours a day for 5 years, 50
weeks a year.
Only 27% of participant mothers of children reported living with a partner at baseline.
The childcare component generates substantial treatment effects on maternal labor force
participation and parental labor income. Subsidized childcare induced wage growth through
enhanced parental educational attainment and wage growth based on work experience.
Any childcare inducements of the program likely benefit parents who, at baseline, did not have any other
children who were not eligible for program participation.
Parental labor income effects induced by the childcare subsidy are an important component of
the benefit/cost ratio.
U.S. Lanham Act of 1940 studied providing childcare subsidies through wartime stimulus grants
between 1943 and 46. Follow-up studies were done into adulthood.
• Increased educational attainment and earnings capacity
• Children were more likely to graduate from high school, college, and work full-time.
• For every $100 spend on the program, participants average annual earnings rose 1.8%.
• Benefits were largest for poorest children served.
Health Benefits
Reported in Science, March 2014: Blind controls were done with
actual biomarkers including blood samples and physician
examinations to determine health:
• Lower rates of hypertension (126 systolic vs. 143 for
nonparticipants)
• Lower obesity (correlated with increased absenteeism, lower
productivity, lower wages) BMI surged for control group at 1 year;
above normal BMI at age 5 is trajectory for severe obesity in mid-
30s
• Lower diabetes is shown to be associated with higher rates of
employment 8 to 11%, less likely to be on social programs (8 to
13%), and higher wages
• No metabolic syndrome for men (waist circumference greater than
40 in., which is highly associated with heart disease, stroke, and
diabetes) vs. 25% for nonparticipants
• Women also but less so (waist circumference greater than 35 in.)
• Reduced “total” coronary heart disease (CHD)
• Better “good” cholesterol (HDL)
• Up to 5.5 years longer life expectancy for men and 5.7 for women
• A way to reduce costs of U.S. health care
Follow-up Studies
• Through age 15, IQ scores were higher for participants and at age 3
IQs were 94 vs. 79 at Perry Preschool
• Higher scores in math and reading through high school
• Lower level grade retention; lower placement in special education
At age 21
• Better intellectual performance in math and reading
• More years of education and more likely to attend college or a
university
• More likely to have a skilled job
• Less likely to be a teen parent
• Increased income of mothers
At age 30
• Four times more likely to hold
a bachelor’s degree
Dr. Frances Campbell, participant in the and job, and delay parenthood
Abecedarian study from the beginning
At age 35
• Striking health benefits
• Much higher percentage enrolled in school at age 21 (42% vs. 20%)
• Much higher percentage attended, or still attending, a 4-year college
(36% vs. 14%)
• Much higher percentage engaged in skilled jobs (47% vs. 27%)
A way to prevent
chronic diseases such
as hypertension,
heart disease,
diabetes and obesity
Noncommunicable
diseases such as
hypertension, heart
disease, and diabetes,
are responsible for
two-thirds of deaths
worldwide
Chicago Child-Parent Center Program Longitudinal Study
• Study of intervention for low-income children with a strong family engagement component from preschool
to 9 years of age (published in JAMA Pediatrics 2016) to address (1) low student attencance, family
disengagement, and low student achievement
• Followed 1,398 children through age 35
• Correlation with post-secondary education (48% higher degree completion), which influences
− Mental health
− Physical health
− Economic prosperity
− Rates of criminal behavior
• Preschool: 51% vs. 44% high school completion; 4 to 6 years: 55% vs. 44%; full program: on-time high
school graduation 53% vs. 31%
• Black boys and high school dropouts showed the greatest gains
• High parental involvement
• Low student teacher ratio
• Balance of teacher and student-directed learning
• Teachers with bachelor’s or higher
• All preschools are housed in elementary schools where the child will attend kindergarten
• Require 2.5 hours of parental involvement each week (hurdle and a help)
• Parent Resource Teacher provides home visits
Chicago Child-Parent Center Program Longitudinal Study (cont.)
• Success based on staying the same school for 4 to 5 years (shows need for
interconnectedness in social services)
• Chicago Public School District was the first to allocate Title 1 funding for preschool
• First federally funded pre-K to 3rd grade program
• Chicago spent $8,000/child for the first 2 years of preschool, and $3,000 for kindergarten through
3rd grade for a $10 return on investment for every $1 spent
• High-quality educational enrichment through reduced class sizes and a balance of teacher- and
child-directed learning
• Family support services that include participation in school activities, support groups and
workshops, and home visits
• Comprehensive services that include nutritional and health supports (subsidized meals, health
screening, and speech therapy)
Chicago Child-Parent Center Program Philosophy:
“In a success-oriented environment in which young children can see
themselves as important, they are ‘turned on’ for learning.”
High School and College Graduation Rates of the Three Studies
Abecedarian: High school completion about the same, but
completion of a bachelor’s degree was four times higher
Perry Preschool: 66% vs. 45% for the control group
Chicago CPC: 22% higher high school graduation rate
(from the Handbook of Economics of Education; Higher Education Handbook of Theory and Research,
Vol. 28;
Develop COGNITIVE AND CHARACTER skills early.
Invest in the “whole child” and family.
Effective early childhood education packages cognitive skills
with character skills such as attentiveness, impulse control,
persistence and teamwork.
Together, cognition and character drive education, career and
life success—with character development often being the most
important factor.
Programs work for the disadvantaged.
Heckman finds that effectiveness depends on program quality.
Government programs that provide disadvantaged families with access to
high-quality, center-based care are better and more effective alternatives
than no formal care.
Affluent families who can afford higher quality center-based and in-home
care are more likely to do better with those alternatives, calling into
question the economic effectiveness of influencing their choices with
government subsidies.
Economic pressures force poor and middle-income parents
alike to spend more time away from their children to make
ends meet. The need for quality early childhood education is
intensifying, and the costs are increasing. Every child needs
quality early childhood education.
Those in the greatest need receive the greatest public benefit
from public funding.
• Quality, birth-to-five early childhood development programs can be
used to prevent adult chronic disease
• High-quality early childhood development should be considered in
health care, particularly among families receiving Medicaid and
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Quality early childhood programs start with effective perinatal care for
mothers and begin at birth for children
• Integrate early health and nutrition into early childhood development
programs
• Early health is critical for later adult health outcomes
High-quality Early Childhood Education Makes a Significant Difference Study, 2018
From Educational Researcher (peer-review journal of the American Educational Research Association
http://www.aera.net/Newsroom/Comprehensive-Research-Review-Finds-Lasting-Effects-of-Quality-Early-Childhood-Education-through-High-School
Study done by five universities (Harvard Graduate School of Education, New York University, University of
California – Irvine, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Rand Corporation
• Reduced future special education placement by 8.1 percentage points
• Decreased grade retention by 8.3 percentage points
• Increased high school graduation rates by 11.4 percentage points.
• No FADE-OUT. Sustained benefits through elementary school and beyond
• MORE THAN HALF OF LOW INCOME 3- and 4-year-olds are left out of center-based care
• $8K to $12K per pupil for special education
• 373,000 students drop out of high school annually at a cost of $262,000 lifetime earnings per
student
Economic Report of the President, Transmitted to the Congress February 2016
• Access to Head Start at 3 and 4, reduced child mortality 50 to 100% in the 300 poorest U.S. counties to close
the gap with the national average
− Increased high school graduation rate
− Lowered arrest rate
Investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy for promoting
economic growth.
Our economic future depends on providing the tools for upward mobility and building a
highly educated, skilled workforce.
Early childhood education is the most efficient way to accomplish these goals:
• Heckman’s study of the Perry Preschool program data showed a 7% to 10%
return on investment per year
• Heckman’s study of the North Carolina’s Abecedarian (ABC) and Carolina
Approach to Responsive Education (CARE) data showed a 13% return on
investment per child per year
Idaho spends $2.63 billion, or one-third of its
$7.9-billion budget (2016), on education
annually
A 13% ROI per year could save $341 million
per year by investing in our people—early
Idaho spends $7,486 per pupil vs. the $12,201
national average (2015)
Only Idaho, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming invest 0
public dollars in pre-K education
Other States
• Oklahoma approved funding of universal, voluntary, high-quality pre-K as a grad level in its school
funding formula. 75% of the state’s 4-year-olds attend pre-K. Benefits found through middle school.
(Only 32% of Idaho’s 4-year-olds attend pre-K. Only 25% of Idaho’s low income and 17% of Latino’s
attend pre-K.)
• North Carolina’s Smart Start and More at Four programs show benefits through 8th grade including
lower special education enrollment, reduced grade retention, and higher math and reading scores. A
spillover effect was found in the scores of students not attending pre-K with those having attended pre-
K. The kindergarten and later elementary years classroom environments were more conducive to
learning because of less disruption and disciplinary issues.
• Texas funds half-day pre-K for low-income students and English language learners. Some school
districts offer full day. Majority are for 4-year-olds, but some provide for 3-year-olds. 58% of pre-K
grads are kindergarten ready based on indexes versus 42% who don’t attend.
• Arkansas Better Chance pre-K graduates scored higher on kindergarten measures of vocabulary, math
skills, and print concepts.
• Georgia’s pre-K graduates had higher kindergarten measures in language and literacy, math, and
general knowledge.
• New Mexico pre-K graduates had higher kindergarten measures in vocabulary, math, and early literacy
compared to nonattendees.
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